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she’ll throw away all her good memories when she realises that I’ve let her down. The last thing in the world I want to do is hurt her, but I’m going to; I know I am.
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GRACIE
    The problem with Mum is that she worries too much. We could do the work in half the time at the nursery if she’d listen to my plan to speed everything up. If we just watered half of the plants every night then we wouldn’t have to be there for so long. I figure what she doesn’t know won’t hurt her. She’ll have some time to herself. I can have a kick before dinner. Now missing soccer, that’s a problem.

9
    team spirit noun : the camaraderie
and loyalty that members of a team
display towards each other
COACH
    For the first time in years, I’ve got myself a team of good players. Great players. It didn’t happen overnight. It took effort. Blood. Sweat. Tears. That’s what I tell them before every match. Their sweat – and the opposition’s blood and tears.
    I tell them there’s only one way to win at those Championships: ‘Great playing isn’t enough, you’ve got to play like you’re closer than family. You’ve got to know each other. Before that ball has even touched a boot you need to sense the direction it will take. How? Know the kid who kicked it, know his instincts like your own.’ Now that’s what soccer’s all about.
    What makes a team the best? They can play with their eyes shut and still win the match.
    Have I got a team like that? Not even close.
    Why am I taking them to the Championships? Because they had it once. They can get it again.
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ANDREW FLEMMING (CENTRE FORWARD)
    What’s soccer all about? It’s about knowing your place. Defenders block. Midfielders pass and defend. Strikers score. No surprises. No mistakes. No one playing for himself. And that means no kicks from the side, Faltrain, when you’re too far out and you can cross to someone closer. The forwards are our best chance of clocking up those goals. I’m our best chance of scoring those goals.
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GRACIE FALTRAIN (MIDFIELDER)
    Second best chance.
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DECLAN CORELLI (MIDFIELDER)
    Soccer’s won by more than just kicking goals, you know.
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ANTHONY FRANCAVILLA (DEFENCE)
    Lucky for you, eh, Corelli?
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GRACIE FALTRAIN
    The game’s won when I get on that field.
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COACH
    The game’s won when I say it’s won. NOW GET BACK OUT THERE AND GIVE ME TWENTY PUSH-UPS OR WE’RE ALL SLEEPING ON THAT FIELD TONIGHT.
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MARTIN KNIGHT (MIDFIELDER/CAPTAIN)
    Some people say it’s all about kicking goals, but they’re wrong. You can’t win on all attack or all defence. I still remember what Mum said to me after one of my first matches: ‘Marty, watch any of the great teams, and you’ll see, they’re arms and legs on the same body. They share a heart. If you’ve got separate hearts, Marty, you may as well give up before the match even starts.’

10
    hubris noun : arrogant pride inviting
punishment
GRACIE
    All Dad’s talk about fate is well and good, but sometimes life’s like soccer. You’ve got to take the ball. No one’s going to give it to you. Some people make good defence. I like to attack. Shoot for goal. That’s why I’m on Nick’s train today.
    Sure it means extra time on public transport. Sure it means Mum will explode because I’ll be too late to close up at the nursery. But how often do you know exactly where your destiny will be down to the last minute?
    Mine’s travelling inside the 4.05 train bound for Eltham. It’s a chance too good to miss. Unfortunately, my destiny’s stuck in a carriage with thirty screaming girls all swinging school bags into my stomach. You can’t have everything, though.
    I get on at the station after Nick. It’s one thing to follow someone. It’s a completely different thing for them to catch you doing it. I fight my way